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Original poster

Wanted Down Under

145 replies

jollyjester · 02/02/2019 12:44

I'm stuck on the sofa under a sick child so binge watching Wanted Down Under.

Current couple have a budget of £950k for a house. His salary was going to stay about the same as was hers.

How do they know how much they can spend on a house when they don't have jobs in Australia, still have a house in the UK etc.

Am I just naive as to how much people have in savings etc?

The last couple had a budget of £350k and uk salaries of £30k ish each and their own house was valued at £50k less than they thought.

OP posts:
zebakrheum · 02/02/2019 12:52

I've always wondered why people decide to go on the programme. Maybe it's for a free trip out there, who knows?
Always enjoy the film they get shown of all the loving family they've left behind, all weeping and wailing about how much they will be missed Grin

ewenice · 02/02/2019 12:57

I watched one this morning where one of them had relatives there already and so were able to meet up with a set of parents. Their house was valued a lot less than they anticipated, but still want to go. It's all very odd when they talk about 'more time to spend with the family' = they still have to work and commute etc.

QuestionableMouse · 02/02/2019 12:58

It gives me the rage. Normally one selfish bastard who wants to uproot the whole family.

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DaffydownClock · 02/02/2019 13:01

The weeping and wailing people left behind really irritate me, surely it's not a surprise to them that they want to emigrate? One grandmother was using emotional blackmail big time! nearly kicked the television she was so OTT

Original poster
jollyjester · 02/02/2019 13:05

I fast forward through the emotional blackmail and "fun day out" segments!

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rallytog1 · 02/02/2019 13:20

I always remember one family on there who lived in the Lake District and said the attraction of Australia was the 'outdoor lifestyle'. If you're not outdoorsy in somewhere like Cumbria, you're not going to magically undergo a personality transplant the minute you step off the plane.

DareDevil223 · 02/02/2019 13:20

I find it really irritating but I still watch it if I'm working from home.
It's usually one obsessed person who wants to go despite knowing nothing about the place and has basically badgered their unfortunate other half into going.

They always love an outdoors lifestyle and have sporty kids. Does EVERYONE have sporty kids? My son was resolutely unsporty Smile

They all all talk about spending more time with the family but forget that they'll still need to work to fund this marvellous new lifestyle.

They all go on about the fun family day outs as if we don't have sport/zoos/beaches/restaurants in the bloody UK that they could go to.

Apologies for the rant!

explodingkitten · 02/02/2019 13:27

We looked into emigrating to Australia and although I like this program (I love looking at houses!) I think that it isn't a good interpretation. For one I think that the job estimates are overrated. They tend to say that ooooh you just need a course and you'll get this pay. But it's almost impossible to do a course when you've just spent your savings emigrating and you need an income. Also, Aussie experience is highly rated if you're looking for jobs. It might take a while to get taken seriously.

Plus I don't get the shopping lists. We tend to buy and eat the stuff that is affordable. If for example tomatoes are cheap here and expensive over there, surely you'll just eat something else?

Biscusting · 02/02/2019 13:28

I love for ones where one person is dying to go and the family absolutely hate the idea but support this whimsical notion.
They tally up how much it’s all going to be with their fantasy house and jobs, they’ll be left with -$198,383,038 per month Grin
Queue the sad face of enthusiastic family member with his wee floppy laminated Aussie flag card at the end of the show.

I’m evil though

Original poster
jollyjester · 02/02/2019 13:36

We've got family over there and while yes they earn more than in the uk, their expenses are horrendous in comparison to the uk. They work really long hours as well.

Australia is also so far away from everywhere. Every time we visit after about 2 weeks I miss old buildings! Blush

When they visit the uk they take the opportunity to visit other European countries as its very accessible

OP posts:
Girlundercover · 02/02/2019 13:40

I always laugh when they look at the houses. One of them doesn’t like the sofa =I’m not moving to Australia!!!

DareDevil223 · 02/02/2019 13:52

@Girlundercover

A bloke the other day didn't like a house because there wasn't a tv in the living room! Buy your own you bloody muppet...

AndAHappyNewYear · 02/02/2019 13:57

They're always thrilled that the job search leads them to a company that offers an amazing work/life balance for mega money like any manager is going to go on TV and reel off all the things that're wrong with their employer.

Starlight90 · 02/02/2019 14:00

I think its for the trip. My neighbour went on it with his wife and 2 kids. All for going over, then she fucks off with another bloke. They should have gone, who knows thing could be different!

tadpole39 · 02/02/2019 14:03

No point now, with climate change Australia will be unliveable soon and they’ll all be trying to come back! Temperatures of 40+ degrees? No thank you

sonjadog · 02/02/2019 14:14

I hate the emotional blackmail bit from the family back home. All the "we miss you soooo much". They've only been gone about 4 days.

It'd have the opposite affect on me. It´d send me running for the visa office.

Gottalovesummer · 02/02/2019 14:23

Ooh I love this programme! Always watch/catch up on my day off!

Wish they did follow ups tho, I've just watched the family from Salford. Mum was desperate to move, although she'd never even been to Australia! Dad was set against it but voted for it in the end! Hooray!

But I need to know if they actually wentGrin

Gottalovesummer · 02/02/2019 14:25

It was the Tomkins family

Original poster
jollyjester · 02/02/2019 14:31

Tompkins update here

OP posts:
Original poster
jollyjester · 02/02/2019 14:33

DH has just announced if we went on the show apart from MIL he doesn't actually think any of his friends would give a shit if he moved! Grin

OP posts:
EdWinchester · 02/02/2019 14:33

The mawkish videos of the family that they saw about 48 hours previously drive me nuts - especially when the kids get upset. It seems cruel and pointless.

And the twirling of the fucking laminates. Whose stupid idea was that?

Gottalovesummer · 02/02/2019 14:34

Ooh thanks jollyjester

They actually went! How fab!

Racecardriver · 02/02/2019 14:38

@rallytog the cities were mostly built during the Victorian era so there is a huge emphasis on practical and pleasant outdoor spaces. We’re always far more active in Australia than in Britain. It’s a combination of better weather and it just being much more pleasant to go out without the car (better pavement with more shade, inner city areas are very walkable, big cafe culture, lots of green spaces with athletic equipment etc.) You walk out your door and get to go for a reasonably pleasant walk. Here we either have to wander around town (not pleasant in warm weather for lack of trees and generally a bit glum) orgetting in the car and driving somewhere pleasant first.

reallyanotherone · 02/02/2019 14:39

It’s just fantasy isn’t it.

You get there, you work, come home, watch tv, go to bed. Take the kids to ballet/brownies/football. Spare time is food shopping, shoe shopping.

Exactly the same as in the uk. Weather is hotter, but you find yourself staying indoors anyway for the air conditioning and because you cba with 4 layers of suncream.

iklboo · 02/02/2019 14:41

My favourite was the one where the husband wanted to go because he liked Crocodile Dundee as a kid.

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